John "Jed" D Stevenson

John D. "Jed" Stevenson, 77, died surrounded by his family and friends at his home in Brooklyn, NY on May 31, 2025, due to complications from frontotemporal dementia.

Jed was born in Montgomery, Alabama. The son of Major General John D. Stevenson and Lauralee Trent Stevenson, he lived the life of an Air Force "brat" stationed at bases in the United States, England, and France. He went on to live in Long Beach, California, Nantucket, Massachusetts, and eventually settled in New York City in the mid-70s.

An avid adventurer and martial artist, Jed enjoyed hiking, reading, kayaking rivers, lakes, and seas, foraging for mushrooms, and most of all making those around him laugh with his absurdity and humor. Jed was an editor and writer for the New York Times, starting his career as a copy boy in one of the last groups to add that distinction to their career. As the numismatics columnist, Jed enjoyed a following of fellow coin enthusiasts. He went on to become one of the rotating columnists for the New York Times celebrated Weekend Warrior column, as well as a rewrite writer for local Metro stories, and as a make-up editor for various editions of the paper. Jed's career at the NYT was one of adventure as well, which included a plaque on the wall of the old Times building commemorating his efforts to get the paper out during the infamous blackout of 1977.

Perhaps Jed's greatest legacy to his family was his love of exploring the world around him. He learned enough sign-language to converse with his deaf co-workers who ran the printing presses on his old copy boy route. He was a trailblazer at the Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26 teaching his fellow New Yorkers the joys of the river as he lead tours to the Statue of Liberty, or exploring the old piers on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. And a quick look at his beloved books revealed titles on the Cathars, shoe making, calculus, classic science fiction, detective novels, flora and fauna, and of course mycology.

His embrace of life was infectious. Well into his battle with dementia, he captured the hearts of his aides and nurses. A true mensch, he blew kisses in threes, and sometimes in no more than a barely discernible whisper said, "I love you."

Jed is survived by Malissa, his partner of 28 years, his child: Izzi Stevenson, his chosen sister: Patti Claflin, and her son Ned Claflin, sister Mindy Olson, brother-in-law Jinx Olson, nieces Allie Olson and Katie Olson; sister Trent Colbert, nieces Sara Edmondson and Shea McNair; mother-in-law Donna Goodman; sister-in-law Tamar Smith, brother-in-law Michael Golub, and nieces Sophia Smith-Golub and Ariel Smith-Golub; brother-in-law Kirk Smith; sister-in-law: Laurie Davidson and brother-in-law Dan Loomis, and nephews Dylan Loomis and Finn Loomis; and sister-in-law Leila Nicols, and nephews Killian Bengs and Asa Bengs.

His family wishes to express its deep appreciation to Visiting Nurse Service Hospice and JASA Home Care. Special thanks to Lynn, Colin, Maya, Lee, Shawmin, and Marie who cared for Jed so lovingly throughout his decline.

A memorial will be announced shortly.